Collapsible electric train set



June 13, 1933. T, FORD COLLAPSIBLE ELECTRIC TRAIN SET Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iii PIL

IN VEN TOR mama 5 oral B Y a g ATTORNEY June 13, 1933. FORD 1,914,116

COLLAPSIBLE ELECTRIC TRAIN SET Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /llllallllllllllllllllll 31 a6 as a Tan-i2 INVENTOR Y Harm 6 1 0 22! Patented June 13, 1933 THOMAS FORD, OF NEW" YORK, N. Y.

COLLAPSIBLE ELECTRIC TRAIN SET Application filed December 14, 1931, Serial No. 580,807. Renewed February 18, 1933.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a collapsible electric train set.

The invention has for an object the 'con struction of an article as mentioned above which is. characterized by a container comprising a bottom, sides hingedly connected therewith, and a top hingedly connected to one of the sides, and a miniature railroad system secured down upon the sides and bottom and adapted to assume an operative posi-' tion when the contalner is opened upwith the sides and top in the same plane with the bottom.

As a further object of this invention it is proposed to connect the rails between the sides of the container with adjustable track sections adapted to be moved to, open and closed positions as the container is respectively in its open andclosed positions.

Furthermore, it is proposed to arrange grass mats along the edges of the sides adapted to engage in the corners when the sides are in the open position.

Furthermore, as another object, it is pros posed to arrange the adjustable track sections from several pieces pivotally connected and adapted to open and closein a manner simulating a hinge.

A still further object of this invention is the construction of an article of the class described which is of simple, durable construction, dependable in use and efficient in operation and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and

to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a train set constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the train set in a completely open position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of an area'ofFig. 2, particularly in the vicinity of the ends of the sides forming the container.

Fig.4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. V

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of the container shown in the closed position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner of the container in a closed position and illustrating the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In Fig. 1 the container is shown in a completely closed position. It consists of a bot tom lOhaving sides 11 and 12 hingedly connected therewith. A cover 13 is hingedly connected upon the free end of one of the sides. A means is provided for detachably connecting the sides together so. as to hold the container in formation. This means comprises catchelements 14: and 15 upon adjacent edges of the sides adapted for co-action' to hold the sides together. The catch element 14 is formed with a removable pin 16 adapted to engage through lug portions in the elements 14 and 15 to detachably hold the parts together. Latch elements 17 are arranged on the cover of the container in one ofthe sides as to hold the top 13 closed. 1A lock 18 is also provided along these edges. A handle 19 is mounted upon the outer face of the cover 13 so that the container may be carried around as a grip. v

A miniature railroad system is mounted upon the bottom and sides of the top of the container and consists of tracks and suitable scenery together with the tracks. More particularly, a rail system 20 is extended around upon the sides 11 and 12 and the bottom 10. These tracks are shown passing through a tunnel 21 upon one of the ends 12, a passage 22 upon one of the sides 11 and a largetunnel 23 upon the bottom 10. Country scenery in the form of small houses, roads and woodlands are arranged around the tracks. A

transformer 24; is shown mounted upon'one of the sides 11 and simulates the power station of the line. A passenger station25 is arranged on the inside of the cover 13. At the junction where the tracks 20 extend from the bottom to the sides 11, hinges 26 are arranged so as to allow pivoting of the sides relative to the bottom.

At the junction where the tracks extend from the ones of the sides 11 to the ends of the sides 12, adjustable track sections are arranged so as to allow the container to assume a closed position and when in the open position permit connection of the tracks in a continuous fashion. The track system comprises a pair of spaced rails 27 and a third rail 28 therebetween. The adjustable track sections are indicated on the drawing by reference numerals 29 and are shown with pins 30 projecting from one of their ends and engaging in slots 31 and formed in links 32 pivotally mounted at 33 upon the ends of the main track. The free ends of the track sections 29 are formed with knife edges 34 adapted to engage within fork portions 35 formed upon the ends of the main track with which the adjustable sections 29 engage. This arrangement allows the track sections 29 to be pivoted free from the junction between the sides 11 and 12 as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 4:. W hen the track sections are thus moved, the sides of the container may be moved to their closed positions. Grass mats 36 are shown attached. upon the ends of the sides 11 and of sizes so as to fill in the corners between the sides of the container when the container is in the open position. When the container is closed, these grass mats are merely folded and disposed within it. 7

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, a modification of the invention has been disclosed in which the adjustable track sections are shown to be composed of a pair of track portions 37 pivotally connected in end aligned relation 38 and having their outer ends 39 pivotally connected with the ends of the main track upon the sides 11 and 12. This arrangement allows the track portions 37 to be moved inwards in a manner that a hinge moves when the container is moved to the closed position. Fig. 8 illustrates the closed position and it should be noted that the grass mat 36 is dis posed in between the track portions 37 which hold the mat against free moving about within the container. Thlli the track port-ions 37 perform the double function of allowing the container to be opened and closed without interrupting the tracks and also holding the grass mats when the container is in the closed position so that they do not fall around freely within the container and become readily broken.

- The miniature railroad system may be supplemented with any of the auxiliaries known to such systems, such signals, switches and the like. In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral 40 indicates an electrical switch to control the operation of trains of the miniature railroad system and numeral 11 indicates a track switch so that an auxiliary track line may be connected with the line sh own in the drawings.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patents is 1. A collapsible electric train set, comprising a container having a bottom, sides hingedly connected therewith, and a top hingedly connected upon one of the sides, means for detachably connecting the sides and the top to form the container so that the parts may be laid open to a flat position, a miniature railroad system on the inner sides of the con tainer and including tracks upon the bottom and sides of the container, hinges being arranged on the tracks at the junctions at the bottom with the sides, and adjustable track sections between the ends of the tracks upon the sides of the container adapted to be moved to a position where the sides assume a flat position with the tracks.

2. A collapsible electric train set, comprising a container having a bottom, sides hingedly connected therewith, and a top hingedly connected upon one of the sides, means for detachably connecting the sides and the top to form the container so that the parts may be laid open to a flat positon, a miniature railroad system on the inner sides of the container and including tracks upon the bottom and sides of the container, hinges being arranged on the tracks at the junctions at the bottom with the sides, and adjustable track sections between the ends of the tracks upon the sides of the container adapted to be moved to a position where the sides assume a fiat position with the tracks, said container being provided with a handle so that the outfit may be readily carried.

3. A collapsible electric train set, comprising a container having a bottom, sides hingedly connected therewith, and a top hingedly connected upon one of the sides, means for detachably connecting the sides and the top to form the container so that the parts may be laid open to a flat position, a miniature railroad system on the inner sides of the container and including tracks upon the bottom and sides of the container, hinges being arranged on the tracks at the junctions at the bottom with the sides, and adjustable track sections between the ends of the tracks upon the sides of the container adapted to be moved to a position where the sides assume a flat position with the tracks, said means for detachably connecting the parts of the container comprising catch elements on adjacent portions of the sides of said container and capable of connection with each'other.

4. A collapsible electric train set, comprising a container having a bottom, sides hingedly connected therewith, and a top hingedly connected upon one of the sides, means for detachably connecting the sides and the top to form the'container so that theparts may be laid open to a flat position, a miniature railroad system on the inner sides of the container and including tracks upon the bottom and sides of the container, hinges being arranged on the tracks at the junctions at the bottom with the sides, and adjustable track sections between the ends of the tracks upon the sides of the container adapted to be moved to a position where the sides assume aflat position with the tracks, said miniature railroad system also including switches, scenery, tunnels and the like.

5. A collapsible electric train set, comprising a container having a bottom, sides hingedly connected therewith, and a top hingedly connected upon one of the sides, means for detachably connecting the sides and the top to form the container so that the parts may be laid open to a flat position, a miniature railroad system on the inner sides of the container and including tracks upon the bottom and sides of the container, hinges being arranged on the tracks at the junctions at the bottom with the sides,,and ustable track sections between the ends 01": the tracks upon the sides of the container adapted to be moved to a position where the sides assume a flat position with the tracks, grass or the like mats being mounted on the edges of certain of the sides of said container and adapted to fill in the area between the sides of the container when the container isopen.

6. A collapsible electric train set, comprising a container having a bottom, sides hingedly' connected therewith, and top hingedly connected upon one of the sides, means for de ta chably connecting the sides and the top to from the container so that the parts maybe laid open to a flat position, a miniature rail road system on the inner sides or" the container and including tracks upon the bottom and sides of the container, hinges being arranged on the tracks at the junctions at the bottom with the sides, and adjustable track sections between the ends of the tracks upon the sides of the container adapted to be moved to a position where the sides assume a flat position with the tracks, comprising track 7 sections pivotally connected upon links pivotally connected with the ends of the tracks upon one of the sides of the container, and

7 A collapsible electric train set, comprising a container having a bottom, sides hingedly connected therewith, and a top hingedly connected upon one of the sides, means for detachably connecting the sides and the top to form the container so that the parts may be laid open to a flat position, a miniature railroad system on the inner sides of the container and including tracks upon the bottom and sides of the container, hinges being arranged on the tracks atthe junctions at the bottom with the sides, and adjustable track sections between the ends of the tracks upon the sides of the container adapted to; be moved to a position where the sides assume a fiat position with the tracks, comprising a pair of track portions pivotally connected with each other in end aligned positions and at the ends pivotally connected with the ends of the tracks upon the sides of said container.

8. A collapsible electric train set, comprising a container having a bottom, sides hingedly connected therewith, and a top hingedly connected upon one of the sides,

means for detachably connecting the sides and the top to form the container so that the parts may be laid open to a flat position, a

miniature railroad system on the inner sides A of the container and including tracks upon the bottom and sides of the container, hinges being arranged on the tracks at the junctions at the bottom with the sides, and adjustable track sections between the ends of the tracks upon the sides of the container adapted to be moved to a position where the sides assume a flat position with the tracks, comprising pair of track portions pivotallv conn'eoted with each other in end aligned posi tions and at the ends pivotally connected 'with the ends of the tracks upon the sides of said container, said track portions being ca-v pable of bowing inwards, and grass mats upon the ends of said sides of the container capable of assuming a flat position to fill in the corners of the container when the latter element is in an open position and capable. of engagement between the track portions when the container is closed.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

THOMAS FORD.

the free ends of said track sections being formed with knife edges adapted to engage slots n the tracks on adjacent sides of the contamer. 

